Egypt
Two Years Ago
Lara Croft
After sealing Seth inside the cave and entombing him in his prison again, Lara raced through the gate. She went up the stairs and weaved around the sliding blocks, even jumping from time to time. A tremor shook the earth as rocks fell around her, her path leading to a gap.
I need to get out before it collapses.
Lara jumped over the gap and turned.
She followed the tunnel, another tremor shifting the floor. A tile fell at her feet. Some of the tiles above bore skulls speared through their craniums.
If I move carefully, I might avoid getting smashed by those big tiles.
Lara raced through the tunnel without getting crushed, jumping over missing stones and avoiding those she didn't want to step. Finally reaching the other side of the skulled tiles, she drew ragged breaths.
Made it!
Lara dashed through the corners. She raced to the left and jumped over a gap on the right.
Jumping again over a gap but this time only grabbing the ledge, she pulled herself up fast and rolled out of the way as a boulder rolled down. She stood up and moved forward only to stop at a fork.
I don't have time for this.
With that, Lara quickly made her way to the right. She could make out the light in the tunnel, the exit.
Now or never.
Lara moved forward only to fall into a pit, but she grabbed the edge again, holding herself up. Taking some breaths to calm her racing heart, she pulled herself up and leaned against the wall.
I'm out of breath. My leg is bleeding. Shit.
Lara started walking to the exit, trying to hold onto the wall for support.
A shadow passed across the sunlit doorway. Lara looked up and stopped, drawing back as she saw Von Croy.
The last time I saw him, he was possessed by Seth.
"Quickly, girl!" Werner said, waving for Lara to hurry.
Lara dashed toward Werner. A tremor knocked her off her feet.
"You back? No more Seth?" Lara said, pulling herself up.
"Your hand, Lara!" Werner said, shaking his hand as a gap split the earth.
It's now or never.
Lara leaped for the opening and managed to latch on to a ledge.
"Good to see you again, Werner." Lara smiled.
"I couldn't leave you!" Werner turned away and left.
He just left me.
Lara closed her eyes and fell into the darkness.
Days later after the pyramid collapsed
A Shaman
Putai
Putai and her father had ridden to the Great Tomb of the Ancient King, which the Westerners called "pyramid." They stood atop a hill. There, hidden behind a dune. A team of archaeologists worked hard on removing the earth from the fallen rocks of the pyramid. They were shoveling here and there and picking up heavy boulders to excavate a long tunnel. Others were busy loading the crates big and small into the trucks and jeeps.
It's like they stopped and were busy departing.
An older-looking man with a limp, dressed in taupe grey, led them. He walked with a jackal stick and pointed to some of the workers at the pyramid. He was also shouting.
Putai could make out something about that they must leave her for dead and that they needed to depart.
"Look at those thieves plundering the holy places again," Putai said.
"No, this time they're trying to find a missing explorer," the old leader said, pointing at the man in taupe grey. "That's Werner Von Croy. He's trying to rescue Lara Croft."
Putai spat on the ground to ward off evil spirits. "She freed Seth!"
"For those people, there's nothing sacred."
"Then let her remain buried! She must pay the price!"
"Seems that's what they're doing. Look at that," Putai's father said, pointing at the drivers closing the back of the truck.
Werner stood in front of the pyramid, bowing his head. He pressed a dusty backpack in his hands, tears streaking sand down his cheeks. "They left her for dead," Putai's father said. "Let those Westerners take care of their affairs."
Putai returned to the pyramid that night and entered the underground tunnels of the Great Pyramid. Her Bedouin eyes guided her in the dark - a faithful ally of her people for generations.
Putai reached the end of the tunnel set by Von Croy's team. She removed the stones until her robes ripped. Her arms were injured, but she still didn't stop for a while. When she cleared the tunnel, she was dirty with dust and soaked with sweat.
She didn't stop trying and struggled to unearth the opening. Her people lived outdoors and only knew the sky, the sun, and the moon. They never slept in a small place.
Putai looked at her.
She looked like a broken doll, her arms and legs twisted at impossible angles, legs bent towards her body. She looked dirty, as the dust had mixed with her blood. Soaking the ground with her blood made it no better.
Putai crawled towards the corpse and pulled its rough hair away from its face. The girl's eyes were swollen, her lips and face covered with cuts and scrapes. Grey crept from the edges of her neck, like vines twisting over her chin.
"What should I do?" Putai said. "She's dead."
Should I take her to her people? Or should I leave her here?
The second option was better, but Putai grabbed the girl's leg and pulled.
Lara screamed.
Putai recoiled, covering her mouth. She gasped. "She's alive."
How did she survive until now?
The Western woman opened her eyes and tried to speak.
Putai couldn't make out what she said because her mouth was dry and full of sand. She took a tiny jar of water from her tattered robe and brought it to the woman's chapped lips. She groaned as she swallowed the water, and she dropped her head again.
"Lara Croft?" Putai said.
She nodded.
"I should leave you to die," Putai said. "You freed Seth. You brought evil to Egypt."
"No…" Lara said. Gurgling. "I fixed my mistake... He's locked up again..."
A cough wracked the Western woman's chest.
Lara's wounds were serious but not fatal. Nothing Putai's wisdom couldn't heal. If Putai rescued Lara from this place, she'd live. If Putai left her here, she'd die.
'"This is it," Putai said as she dragged Lara by the hand. She hefted Lara over her shoulder and carried her to the camel.
Some Western doctors hardly believed the healing wisdom of a nomadic and primitive tribe could heal such terrible injuries, but Lara fully recovered.
The months passed by, Lara could walk again. Soon Lara started to ride with Putai and learned her people's ways. Putai started to become fond of the westerner, but she kept her eyes on her.
"These places had been forgotten in time by other tribes," Putai said.
"These ruins are beautiful," Lara said.
"Something bothering you?" Putai said.
"Why did you save me that day?" Lara said, looking at Putai.
The sun was at its lowest, a pinkish hue filling the sky.
"The spirits talked to me," Putai said. "I wanted to refuse, but once they talk to you, they don't leave you alone until you do what they asked."
They rode back to Putai's tribe.
The Bedouin taught Lara their wisdom and tradition, of the way they could heal broken bones and survive in the desert without needing food for weeks. They slept on the dunes and never went near the modern world.
As for Lara, she told her experiences throughout the world, taught Putai to speak French since it was the second official language of Egypt.
One day they stood at a dune. Lara sighed as Putai finished giving the camels some water. It was a long trip they made from Cairo to Suez. Yet they did it under the blazing sun.
"I've to return to England," Lara said. "My people still believe I'm dead."
"That crippled old man," Putai said.
"Once he was my teacher and mentor...now he's my worst enemy."
"But he tried to find you."
"He abandoned me." Lara sneered. "He's a traitor. He came so close. I could hear his voice, but I didn't have the strength to call him. He stole my backpack and left."
She spat to one side.
Putai wanted to tell her. Werner was forced to leave her for dead. After all, her father told Putai they had to leave Lara for dead. He didn't abandon her. But Lara, her friend, was full of hate.
Lara would never forgive him.
New York
Two years ago
Apartment block
Kurtis Trent
In a dark room of the apartment, laying on the bed sleeping after escaping from Gunderson and his men back in Europe, after learning that his boss, Gunderson had started working for the Cabal, Kurtis's worst enemy. He had come back to his old apartment to hide for a bit until he had to flee again.
A knock came from the door. He opened his eyes, yawning. The knocks grew louder.
Wonder who's knocking this time of the morning.
Kurtis glanced at the clock on the wall - 4:32 AM.
He got up, grabbed some pants, and strolled to the door. He opened the door with his gun at his side, but he placed it back on the table as it was only a long-time friend of his.
"Steph?"
"Sorry, Kurtis for bothering you this time of the night," She said as he let her in and closed the door behind her after checking if there was anyone else in the hallway.
"Steph, you never bother me." He said gesturing for her to sit on the couch. "So what bring you here?"
She hasn't changed since the last time I saw her.
"Your mother send me," She said "Seeing as I'm the only one out of the whole order you talk to."
"I have my reasons," He said "But why did my mother send you."
"She's asking if you would go with her to England." She sighed rubbing her head "Someone she knew died and she has no one to go with her, your father is planning to ambush the Cabal and your brother, the last time I check was still in Egypt."
"What's new with my father, he wants to kill us all." Kurtis stood up "Why is Wiliam in Egypt."
"That's not true, your father wants the Cabal gone, as we all do." She said seeing Kurtis look out the window. "The person who died, your brother had help her in Egypt in locating an artifact but things went sidewise and she got buried alive."
"And mother also knew her, how?" Kurtis asked turning to look at her.
Why was she really here?
"Yes, let's just say she and William had been best friends back in their last year of high school."
"Let my mother know I will meet her there but she must also know, I won't stay long there. The Cabal is on my tail." Kurtis sighed as he saw her expression. "That's a long story for another day."
"I understand, Kurtis." She stood up touching his arm "Just know I'm always a call away if you need to talk,"
She placed a kiss on his cheek and left a note in his hand. She turned around and walked out closing the door behind her as she left him staring.
He looked down at the paper in his hand. Reading the writing.
England, Surrey - Croft Manor - Memorial Service for Lady Lara Croft - Friday afternoon.
"Lara Croft, now where have I heard that name before," Kurtis mumbled as he placed the paper in his backpack and went to make himself coffee. He was already awake so no need to sleep anymore.
This trip to England will have to be quick.